(PRESS RELEASE) -- Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Buster’s in Maryland Heights, MO to meet and receive autographs from some of the greatest and most popular MMA fighters of all time. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.
WHERE:Dave & Buster’s 13857 Riverport Dr. Maryland Heights, MO
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. CT
WHO:
The name Gracie is synonymous with MMA, and that is largely in part to Royce Gracie, the man who is considered to have invented the sport as we know it today. The winner of the first several UFC events, Gracie would dismantle multiple opponents in a single night, many of whom were much larger than him. For many years there was no answer for the Gracie Jiu Jitsu technique that he brought into a fight. Today, it's hard to find an MMA fighter who hasn't trained in the art of jiu-jitsu.
There is only one Kimbo Slice. The unmistakable bearded brawler achieved fame through a series of street fights that garnered extreme levels of attention on YouTube. After parlaying his fame into an MMA career, Kimbo exploded onto the scene and became one of the sports most popular stars of all-time. Kimbo has been the focal point of the first and third-most watched MMA fights in the sport's history. This past June in St. Louis, his fight against Ken Shamrock shattered Bellator MMA's viewership records.
Often referred to as “The Godfather” of MMA, Ken Shamrock is a pioneer of the sport, and introduced an incredible brand of MMA that helped shape the sport into what it is today. With incredible suplexes and leg locks, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” always made for must-see TV. His heated rivalries with guys like Royce Gracie and Tito Ortiz generated incredible buzz, and helped popularize the sport. His fight with Tito Ortiz was at one time the second-most watched MMA fight of all time.
“The People's Champion” Tito Ortiz is a fan-favorite all over the world. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion was one of the toughest competitors in the cage. Utilizing his wrestling background, Ortiz was a grinder who defended his title an impressive five times. Always with a flare for the dramatic, Ortiz had intense rivalries in the cage with guys like Ken Shamrock, as well as outside the cage with UFC President Dana White.
The first British World Champion in the history of MMA will always be Liam McGeary. At 6’6 the towering fighter has achieved notoriety around the world with his impressive skillset which has seen him end fights with impressive knockout power as well as jiu-jitsu prowess. Currently undefeated at 11-0, the future is bright for the Bellator MMA Champion. Most recently, McGeary defeated fellow Fan Fest participant Tito Ortiz in the main event of the groundbreaking "Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1."
FIGHT INFO: “Bellator 145: Vengeance” features two world title bouts. Patricio Freire (24-2) defends his featherweight strap against Daniel Straus (23-6) and Will Brooks (16-1) meets submission specialist Marcin Held (21-3), with the 155-pound belt on the line. The event will also feature a trio of Missouri natives with Michael Chandler (13-3), who fights David Rickels (16-3, 1 NC); heavyweight Bobby Lashley (13-2) who looks to avenge a previous loss on his record when he finally meets James Thompson (20-14) in a rematch; and Justin Lawrence (8-2) who meets Emmanuel Sanchez (11-2).
Tickets for “Bellator 145: ‘Vengeance,” which start at just $30, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour after.
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike's press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.